Hanley Ramirez will rest groin sooner or later

Just like I suspected last night, manager Fredi Gonzalez told us this afternoon that shortstop Hanley Ramirez and his sore groin are going to get a day off at some point during this 11-game homestretch.

"We’ll see how he handles the next couple days," Gonzalez said. "But there will be a time when we give him a breather because we don’t want it to get worse. We’ll check with him everyday and with the trainers and if it starts getting really, really sore, we’ll give him an evening off."

When exactly that is remains to be seen.

Last night, Ramirez told us he feels his groin tighten whenever he tries slowing down before reaching a base. It's one of the many ailments he's been dealing with this season. After every game, about 30 percent of his body is covered in ice.

Just don't look for Ramirez to ask out voluntarily. He knows the Marlins are 6.5 games back of the Phillies and in fourth place in the NL East. And he knows this homestand is an important time to win games and help the Marlins stay within striking distance.

Last night, Ramirez went 3 for 5 with a double and two runs scored. He's actually hitting .413 against the Brewers lifetime and has a 10-game hitting streak against Milwaukee -- one of four teams he has hitting streaks of 10-or-more games against.

> The Marlins made the last part of their four player move before today's game, recalling outfielder Alejandro De Aza from Triple A New Orleans. Last night, the Marlins sent reliever Cristhian Martinez back to Double A Jacksonville (he got the win Monday) and catcher Brett Hayes back to New Orleans to make room for tonight's starter Anibal Sanchez.

"He can be the first pinch hitter off the bench," Gonzalez said referring to De Aza. "He’s a left-hander. He has some speed. Having Hayes here, it was detrimental to him really. Here’s a guy who we are really high on defensively as a catcher and he spent 9, 10 days here and only got five at-bats. And that’s not fair for him or for the organization. We need those type of guys to go down there and play.

"The other reason we could use De Aza is to give Cody Ross a spell against a tough right-hander. He’s done a good job, too. He came up here and was [3 for 9, 3 runs scored] and got sent down. He’s made the club two years in a row in spring training, played four or five games and hurt himself. I think it’s a good decision for us to bring up De Aza."

> Jorge Julio's rough night Monday cost him his job. The Brewers released the Marlins' former closer Tuesday, a night after he failed to record any of the six batters he faced, laying the groundwork for the Fish's big five-run inning in their 7-4 come-from-behind win. Julio was 1-1 with a 7.79 ERA in 15 games for the Brewers.

> One change to the batting order tonight. Rookie Chris Coghlan will have the night off. Brett Carroll will take his spot, but hit eighth in the order. Gonzalez said its strictly because the Brewers are starting left-hander Manny Parra tonight.